In the Spring we returned the acclaimed ‘Samhain’ exhibition to the National Museum after a year-long run at the centre. Our sincere thanks to Aoife O’Toole and Lorna Elms for providing same. We also hosted…

‘From Colonial State to Free State – What they Said…’ – an exhibition presented courtesy of Galway County Council Archives and includes documents from its collections illustrating an extraordinary period in Ireland’s history, more relevant especially during this year that marks the centenary of the Easter Rising.

‘From the archives, 1916: revolution and recollection’ – Presented as part of the County Galway revolutionary period programme from Galway County Council Archives, the images relate in some way to the events or people involved in the 1916 Easter Rising.

In the Autumn,  the Shorelines Arts Festival exhibition in September was again a highlight (for more see http://www.shorelinesartsfestival.com/) as was the exhibition courtesy of the Polish Embassy in October ‘Friends in Times of Turmoil’ which was hosted as part of our Polish Festivities.

Note that the Workhouse continues to host exhibitions on the archaeological fieldwork along the N6 (Galway-Ballinasloe) & N18 (Oranmore-Gort) motorway routes. The discoveries made on these routes are noteworthy for their variety and help shine a light on our forefathers in Co Galway.

At the Workhouse…

Sat 19th (12-4pm): Folklore, Fossils, and the Forge

Sun 20th (10:30am-2:30pm): Reaching Out: Autism Day

Mon 21st (10am to 4pm): Lá Gaeilge

Tue 22nd (11:30am-12:30pm and 1:30pm-2:30pm): Artefacts Day

Wed 23rd (12:30pm to 3:30pm): Sounds of the Workhouse

Thu 24th (1-6pm): Who do you think you are?

Fri 25th (12-5pm): Cures in Nature

Sat 26th (9:30am-5pm): Workhouse Heritage Day

Sun 27th (12-1pm and 2-3pm): Chase a fairy, find a bee…

The Workhouse ‘On Tour’…

Sat 19th (All Saints Heritage Centre, 12pm): Clonburmen in the British Army

Sat 19th (Crossroads Community Centre, 2pm): Congmen in Crown Forces

Sat 19th (Ruanes of Glentane, 7:30pm): The Inn of Glentane

Tues 22nd (Athenry Heritage Centre, 4:30pm): Athenry 200

Wed 23rd (Ballinasloe Library, 2:30pm): Cricket in Co Galway

Thu 24th (Birr Library, 11:30am): The Head Family and their Legacy           .

Thu 24th (Scariff Library, 12pm): The Workhouses of the Region

Thu 24th (Loughrea Library, 2:30 – 6pm): Exhibition on Loughrea Workhouse

Fri 25th (Kilbarron Hall, 8pm): Kilbarron Terryglass Soldiers in HM Forces

Workhouse Publications for Heritage Week…                         

Sat 19th: Portumna Priory Inscriptions. Launch at Portumna Library at 12pm

Sat 19th: Clonburmen in the British Army. Launch at the Clonbur lecture

Sat 19th: Congmen in Crown Forces in C19. Launch at Cong at 3pm

Sat 19th: The Inn of Glentane. To be launch at Ruane’s Bar at 8pm

Tue 22nd: The most harmless…. Launch by Eoin O’Neill at the Workhouse at 8:30pm

Thu 24th: Workhouses of the Region. Launch at Loughrea & Scariff Libraries

Sat 26th: Folklore Booklet (gathered from National Schools), launch at noon

Sun 27th: Meelick Medieval Church by Dr Christy Cunniffe at 12pm at Meelick

Sun 27th: Lawrences of Lawrencetown by Aron Donnolly. Launch at Pardys at 7:30pm

In addition, in partnership, with

(i) Galway Heritage Forum, the centre will host an exhibition on Ecclesiastical Art from Co Galway from Monday, August 21st, from 8pm;

(ii) Athenry Heritage Centre and SEGAHS, the centre will host a lecture by Eoin O’Neill on Constable Whelan & 1916 on Tuesday, August 22nd, at 8:30pm,

(ii) BirdWatch Ireland and Galway County Council, the centre will host ‘Go Wild’ Nature Camps on Wednesday, August 23rd and Thursday, August 24th.

Heritage Conference at the Irish Workhouse Centre titled ‘Eaten Bread: The archaeology and history of food production and preparation’. This free conference is presented in partnership with the Galway Community Archaeology Advisory Project.

Speakers include…

Margaret Hickey is a poet and writer based in Portumna. She was previously food & drink editor at Country Living magazine and is best known her acclaimed book Irish Days published in 2001. Margaret’s upcoming book Ireland’s Green Larder will focus on the history of food in Ireland.

Clodagh Doyle has been working with the National Museum since 1995. Clodagh is curator of the Calendar Custom, Religion, Sport & Leisure, Ceramic & Glass, Childhood and Hearth Furniture Collections.

Rosanne Meenan is a contract archaeologist and ceramics specialist. She has written reports on pottery from excavations all around Ireland, urban and rural, concentrating mainly on pottery from the post-medieval period.

John Tierney is a well-known field archaeologist and heritage consultant in Galway. He is founder and operator of both ‘Eachtra Archaeological Projects’ and ‘Historic Graves’.

Mary Bulfin is a forager, local food historian, and wild foods expert. With a background in science, cookery, and natural medicine, foraging has been part of Mary’s life since she could walk. ‘Wild Food Mary’ will talk on the use of wild ingredients in traditional dishes.

Keep in touch for more details…

(i) Jimmy Laffey’s wonderful exhibition on the ‘Estate Houses of County Galway’ fresh from the Athenry-Teagasc 1916 event,

(ii) The exhibitions from the archaeological projects of the N6 Galway to Ballinasloe motorway & the N18 Oranmore to Gort motorway,

(iii) In partnership with the National Museum the Workhouse is hosting ‘Samhain’ – an exhibition of photographs, soundscape, and writing created by groups of older people from around Ireland,

(iv) The Loughrea Camera Club are exhibiting images of the region which will hereafter be an annual exhibition for visitors.

Date: Thursday, 29 Sept 2016

Location: Irish Workhouse Centre – Portumna

Time: 12-5pm

On the day you can expect:

> Free access to billions of family History records on: Findmypast.ie

> One-to-one genealogy sessions with an Eneclann expert (booking is advised)

> Talks on finding your roots and on the 1916 rising

There will be free lectures open to all members of the public, and all you have to do is pop in and let us help you solve the mystery in your Family History!

This event is the perfect opportunity for those of you who want to get going on building your family tree but just don’t know where to start. We hope to see you all at the Workhouse on the day and our friends at Eneclann can’t wait to share their expert advice and help get you started.

The Workhouse will also be providing FREE late tours (at 6pm and 7pm).

Culture Night is all about encouraging people to go to a cultural event or a culture venue, and you would be most welcome to come and join us on the night.

See local media or contact us via email for more.

Sat Aug 20 @ 11:30: Let’s Build a Workhouse – Minecraft (Major Event, booking required)

Sun Aug 21 @ 12:00: Archaeologist’s Answers with Mary Healy (Talk)

Sun Aug 21 @ 13:30: Prátaí na Éireann with Margaret Hickey (Talk)

Mon Aug 22 @ 15:30: Workhouse Objects with Aileen O’Dowd (Talk)

Tue Aug 23 @ 15:30: The War before the Great War with Aron Donnelly (Talk)

Wed Aug 24 @ 9:30: Co Galway Club Hurling – The Early Years (Exhibit)

Thur Aug 25 @ 15:30: Catholic Parish Registers in Genealogy with Dolores O’Shea (Talk)

Thur Aug 25 @ 19:30: Portumna Soldiers with Steve Dolan (Talk)

Fri Aug 26 @ 9:30: Portumna of Old (Exhibit)

Sat Aug 27 @ 12:30: The Dirt Diggers for Kids (Children’s Event)

Sun Aug 24 @ 10:00: Workhouse Heritage Day (Discounted Tours)